Printed Chinese language and Japanese flags are seen on this illustration, July 21, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

TOKYO, Aug 21 (Reuters) – Japan is contemplating the deployment of 1,000 long-range cruise missiles to spice up its counterattack functionality towards China, the Yomiuri newspaper reported on Sunday.

The missiles can be current arms modified to increase their vary from 100 km (62 miles) to 1,000 km, the each day stated, citing authorities sources.

The arms, launched by ships or plane, can be stationed primarily across the southern Nansei islands and able to reaching the coastal areas of North Korea and China, the Yomiuri stated.

Representatives from Japan’s overseas ministry didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon the report.

Japan, which interprets its war-renouncing postwar structure to imply it could use its navy just for self-defense, has stepped up its navy spending and brought a extra assertive technique in recent times. However it has avoided deploying long-range missiles, amongst its limits on weapons that may strike targets on overseas soil.

Regional tensions ratcheted up this month after a go to by Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the U.S. Home of Representatives, to Taiwan, which is self-ruled however claimed by China. Beijing launched missiles close to Taiwan and into Japan’s unique financial zone. learn extra

Reporting by Rocky Swift in Tokyo; Enhancing by William Mallard

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